Snakes & Ladders

I don’t think

You appreciate

How hard it is

To stay on track

When the only steps

Available

Are two forward

And three back

4

The Rough Vs The Smooth

I’ve often wondered

Over the years

If I had never met

The barbarian

What my life

Would have been like

Had I slept

With the librarian

(Inspired by a writing prompt offered by Michael at https://afterwards.blog)

High School English Teachers 

I remember everything about you

Your cardigan, glasses and quiff

If you weren’t so much older

Maybe I’d have been bolder

And asked you out forthwith

(Originally Posted 19.08.2022)

Last Chance 

Despite my protests

to the contrary,

it has always

been you.

Why not 

meet me

at the library,

and I’ll make

your dreams

come true.

(Originally Posted 19.08.2019)

4

Flimsy

It never ceases to amaze me

How quickly the tears can flow

At some moment of nostalgia

Or sentimental TV show

I guess it’s just indicative

Of how most days I can deal

But just beneath the surface

Lurks a trauma yet to heal

2

Is It Really The Kindest Thing?

The worst is when

All hope is gone

And you know that they

Can’t carry on

When the end is coming

At them hard

And all that’s left

Is wounds and scars

That’s when you wish

They could call it a day

Instead of just watching

Them waste away

4

“I Was Sorry To Hear About Your Dad…”

I remembered what

It was like today

Back when that pain

Gnawed away

When his death broke me

To the sum of my parts

And my mental health

Was off the charts

And although with her

I did empathise

I couldn’t be false

Or tell her lies

So I whispered the truth

As I’ve come to accept it

Although time does heal

It can never correct it

0

Pot Luck

Feel free

To take it all

She said

The Valium,

Zoloft and Prozac

They never really

Worked for me

So it’s not like

I’ll need them back

0

I’ve Met Your Sort Before

I’ll sleep with you

When I’m good and ready

So don’t come around here

All hot and heavy

Thinking your patter

Will trick me to bed

You see all that talk

I’ve heard before

And believe you me

I know the score

So never again

Can I be misled

2

Under Pressure

I need time

To think it through

She said

It’s not that cut

And dried

Well you need

To hurry up

He said

As time’s not on

Our side

4

The Wisdom Of Age

The older I get

She said

I’ve realised

That the timing

Will never be right

You’ve just got to go for it

She said

And to not

Be so uptight

4

The Power Of Walking Away

I am honestly

Not interested

In whatever

You’ve got to say

It’s not like

It’ll make a difference

To how I feel

Anyway

For I have

Already decided

This relationship

Has died a death

So you may as well

Just leave me alone

And save

Your fucking breath

4

It’s Been A Long Week

I’ll go out with you

Again tonight

But don’t expect

I’ll be too much fun

I mean, I’ll be okay

But will slip away

When my social battery

Is done

2

Bored To Tears

There was a time

I’d humour you

But that has long

Since passed

It’s not like I ever

Wanted to know

That’s why I

Never asked

0

At Daggers Drawn

As another sun sets

On our argument

My stomach

Is still in bits 

Because of all the things

We could’ve been 

I never thought

That we’d be this

0

The Heat Of The Moment

I never said 

You weren’t thoughtful

Not conscientious or kind 

It’s just that when I said 

I wish you were dead 

I had other things

On my mind 

3

“That Plastering Needs Done”

If I was a little more forward

And not just so uptight

Then I’d stop being so awkward

And sleep with you tonight

But as it is I’m a coward

With no confidence at all

So the only thing I’ll see tonight

Are the cracks in my bedroom wall

0

Into The Night

Just kick back

And drink with me

There’s no need

To be so reserved 

As for tying up loose ends

And toasting old friends

We’ve got all the time 

In the world

(Inspired by a writing prompt offered by Michael at https://afterwards.blog)

4

Glassy Eyed

This isn’t the most painful

She said

Or the worst hardship

I’ve endured

My armour’s doing fine

She said

Though I’m not too sure

About yours

9

Welcome Interruptions

I’ve found if you socialise enough 

Sometimes, it actually works 

Then it’s only when 

You’re alone again 

That it really fucking hurts 

4

That Evil Within

I’ve seen what lurks

Inside you

Despite what you’re trying

To show

And it’s clear, in fact

Your crawling back

Just confirms what

I already know

2

Pretty Please

How many times more likely

Would it be if you asked politely

I mean I’d let you do

Whatever you wanted to

If you just spoke to me nicely

4

Spilled Guts

To acclaim and adulation

Of late I’ve been besieged

But that’s just what happens 

When your mind blackens 

And suffers a containment breach

(Inspired by a writing prompt offered by Michael at https://afterwards.blog)

0

Not In Front Of The Kids

I hear you shout

Through the wall

And realise you don’t

Love her at all 

Then I see you fight

From my bed

And know you won’t stop

Until she’s dead

2

Never To Be Seen Again

Though I caught his eye

As he said goodbye

I couldn’t quite tell

If he would jump

But when he didn’t show up

Later on that month

I knew to the bridge

He had succumbed

4

The Agave Blues

Lying here prone

On the bathroom floor

Praying my sins be absolved

If I can just resolve

To show tequila the door

4

The Sins Of Fathers

If I was to meet my father

When he was a younger man

I would ask him some questions

To help me to understand

Like did he ever really love her

That’s what I’d like to know

Why did he defy his parents

If it was all just for show?

Why when he had his own kids

Did he revert back to what he knew

Why treat us the way he had been

What was he trying to do?

But most of all I’d tell him

Of the mistakes he was going to make

And convince him to do things differently

For our relationships sake

6

On A Loop

It doesn’t matter

What you do

Or how many fantasies

You suggest

As nothing can beat

The reality

That plays

Inside my head

4

Just An Act

I watched you tonight

Schmoozing the crowd

All good-natured

And affable

Yet I’ve seen you inside

Where there’s nowhere to hide

And the difference

Is fucking laughable

3

Knowing Our Luck

Where will it end

She said

When will it all

Just stop

I’ve got no fucking idea

He said

But I know we’re both

For the chop

0

Silence Kills

I thought that you

Were telling the truth

When you said

You were here to help

Yet despite my decline

I realised in time

You were only ever out

For yourself

0

Mother’s Day

As she sat down

She looked around

And each of their smiles

Was a winner  

Yet she couldn’t help 

But think to herself 

They are only here

For the dinner

(Inspired by a writing prompt offered by Michael at https://afterwards.blog)

2

Maudlin

Perhaps I should consider

Meeting someone else instead  

But I can’t help thinking 

(Especially when drinking) 

That I’d be better off dead

8

Like Arseholes

Suggestions on what

To do and not

Believe me,

I’ve had a billion

But remember that

What you state as fact

Is just

Your fucking opinion

2

Mere Mortal

If I could learn

To love myself

I know how happy

I could be

But the effort required 

Would be superhuman

And I don’t have that much

In me

4

Worth A Try

I’ll get up to eat

Some food today

As opposed to staying

In bed

Maybe then I’ll find

Ways to busy my mind

Instead of laying there

Like I’m dead

3

Another Kick In The Teeth

There was once a time

When I could go home

Shower

And wash myself clean

But now there’s no let up

No matter how hard I scrub

From the pain

My body has seen

5

Nightlife

Sneaking outside

For a cheeky cigarette

I catch your eye

And swiftly regret

That I said

I’d go home with him

Creeping back inside

And to the bar

I see you again

Peering from afar

And I know

That it’s sink or swim

It’s your hair at first

That grabs my attention

But when I see your face

I know my intention

Is to take you back 

To mine

And as I watch you again

When you walk back in

Standing at the bar

Ordering a drink

I know it’s just 

A matter of time

(Inspired by a writing prompt offered by Michael at https://afterwards.blog)

5

The Leap Year Dinner

I’m really looking forward to it

She said

I think we’ll have a good night

I think it’ll all depend

He said

On any home truths coming to light

0

Fucking Things Up

I didn’t mean

For you to leave

All I needed

Was a break

And now you’ve gone

All I do is dwell on

My unintentional

Mistake

0

‘Sing Me To Sleep’

I see you hold her

In your arms

And wonder if she’ll succunb

To your boyish charms

Because if it was me

That you cradled so tight

I’d want to stay there

All day and all night

0

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